I was going to write about the BET’s new show, Mancave and putting my spin on it. But I’m putting that on hold until I write this blog story regarding this subject: March For Our Lives.

I like everyone else, looked at the footages of our young folks in D.C. and locally here in Milwaukee protesting and having their say about the recent shootings that effected their schools and the relationship of their classmates. This wasn’t just an American issue, it was also worldwide. It was estimated in DC that over 800,000 plus came out to this rally/march to hear and to protest a substance that has been lingered for so long. Many of us, including me had lost someone we know personally to gun violence. I lost a cousin to gun violence in the summer of 2002 when Milwaukee was facing one of the worst summers at the time. My cousin was just 21 years old. A young black man going to college. And owned an upcoming Ice Cream Parlor. He was gunned down all because there were other folks wanting his car with the spinning rims on the side. He was killed near 47th and Locust and crashed his car near the corner of 47th and Center Streets not too far from Washington High School. All in Milwaukee. My family like many other families that lost loved ones were in horror about losing a young black male to gun violence. Weeks after my cousin’s death, the perps were tracked down and were caught for the crime. Previously, they were serving time.

But that was a personal matter. I know that the connection wasn’t all school related, but the relation of having someone close to you being killed is understandable. Now why am I putting this out on a day like today? Everyone again, has a story. But for this “March for our lives” event to voice our concerns of the recent tragedies in schools this needs NO relation. At all. NONE!

While I was looking at the young teens and some under 13 years old they seem to have a idea. An objective. These young players and girls have a momentum that would rocket them to the next level. They are the Z Generation from what I hear. And this Z Team is not pulling any punches when it comes to the things or ideas they are seeking to help curb Gun Control.

CALLOUT: And I need to say this: for all of you gun nuts who think that this March For Our Lives group is going to take away your firearms or pew pew pistols, they are not. NO ONE IS NOT TAKING AWAY YOUR GUNS! President Obama didn’t take them away and I’m surprised no one took away his Skeet Shooting Rifle! It’s kind of funny that many would believe that. But your firearms are still in your house.

Some of the speakers did spoke out on their “so far” experience. A few of them spoke were black. And some have expressed about not being at the age to give out activism like remarks. But adults, let us remind ourselves that the well known activists we know and read about, started their activism speeches as young as 5 years old. Don’t tell me that you overshot that. Folks like MLK and Rev. Al Sharpton done that. And even though that MLK is dead for nearly 50 years, and Al Sharpton is still living, their activism are lingered in memory and archived for the future. Grown folks, stop playing! It’s been done before. And it just happened again today! Those like Naomi Wadler who is only 11 years old. A 5th Grader speaking out for those whom are African-American girls that don’t make the front pages of newspapers in the nation. Nor the evening news on TV. And she’s from Alexandria, Virginia who lead a walkout via her Elementary School. The black girls she referenced were ranging from – Courtlin Arrington, Hadiya Pendleton and Taiyania Thompson just to name a few.

She also referenced very same City of Chicago that everyone talks about in a question “What about the black-on-black crime?” “What about Chicago?” For black boys: same thing. As an example, Trevon Bosley gave his remarks by stating that “Everyday shootings are everyday problems!” And the keyword is “everyday.”

Now we know that the “suspect supporter” of the lobbyists has the letters “NRA” on them. It’s seems that the NRA has been THE suspect. Why? I think we adults whom have back them and the 2nd Amendment allow this to happen! Of course that the 2nd Amendment has the right to bear arms or having a gun. We know this. BUT when was the last time that NRA has ever backed a thing called responsibility? I never heard the NRA fans like Dana Loesch or that black dude what’s his name, Colion Noir is it? (dude is selling out) never talked about the responsibility of the firearms their members and lobbyists must understood. They never spoke about Philando Castile’s murder in Minnesota nor recently, Stephon Clark’s murder by the Sacramento Police in his grandparent’s backyard! Where you at, NRA? Backing up Trump?! Don’t be surprised if the Gen Z Crew turns that age to vote, get involved in politics/activism and vote out all those who held down that red wall of pain that many fought for so long to take down! Be warned, NRA. They coming. And those who back them, you might be in the wave of truth of getting out of way. Again, these kids now are NOT PLAYING! And they are teaching us and reminding us of our accountable actions!

Many of us in the Baby Boomers, Gen X and yes you Millennial folks, we’ll be in those nursing stations getting someone to wash our butts as we get older and relieve our sickness and diseases to cure our bodies. OK subject off. Not good. But you know what I’m saying.

From David Hogg to Emma Gonzalez and many in between, they were the premiered speakers and survivors and we grown folks had to listen to them. That’s what they wanted. They wanted to speak and they did. But the surprising speaker of all of them was just 8 years old. And she has a legacy to maintain for the next era of the name King. Yes, Yolanda Renee King – MLK’s and Coretta’s only Grand Daughter, Niece of Rev. Bernice King and Dexter King, and daughter of MLK III came out and spoke that she has a dream that enough is enough!

This is King’s Granddaughter speaking. Now I know that she’s only a preteen in elementary school. But after her speaking part of going to be a great generation, there is no telling, she is just beginning to spread her future activism. But I hope that she not only does that, but also maintains the namesake of her family to restore!

Now I want to address all this mess about are the Parkland High School Students are being exploited for all this protesting. My question is, who is exploiting them? Who?

All the grown folks who say that, shut up! They to me are addressing a concern about the violence in the schools recently. There was violence of guns in the Milwaukee Public Schools not too long ago. Were the current students of MPS being exploited about that? When many of us were in high school in the 90’s or 80’s, now as ALUMNI were we exploited with high school violence in our schools not caring?! Yes I went there. And many of us never used the letters “NRA” back then. Unlike now. I don’t think nor believe that the students are being exploited. Seriously, who’s exploiting them?! Who?! One thing about all of this, folks want to stir up stuff that is not true. If that’s the case, they wouldn’t be doing the marching or speaking out period. And their parents would NOT allow them to attend. But wait a minute: this is a country with freedom of expression right? So that means that our young folks can’t speak about the concerns that they witnessed? Many of us grown folks are perpetrating. And many are doing that by the keyboards who think they know it all, but don’t do the homework. Yes grown people I’m talking about us! Or many of us that want to rant with no proof.

Final say: even though that this march is a one day affair of open expression of our youth, it shouldn’t stop today! This needs to be an everyday subject! Everyday! Not just every March 24th, take a photo, say/hear the speeches, performances and go home. I want all the schools to really take heed about what is happening here. And yes this does include the parents! And also the communities, the fraternities, the sororities, the churches, neighborhoods, and many other groups, clubs and organizations that really cares about the safety and well being of our (and I mean OUR) kids! If you don’t have children like me and you’re just looking at this March and rally, I say back up the kids in your churches and community centers/organizations. Women: back up the girls. And as far as the Men (whether you have kids or not) we need to back up our Sons, Nephews, Cousins, Grandsons, Godsons, and young wards/male students who look up to us as head pillars in the community and go to the schools everyday, while we work the clock! Women: same thing if you have sons and no daughters. Men, vice versa with daughters.

I have a message to the Generation Z crew that were active today: I hear you. We all hear you. Let’s do the work to get you started. After all, you are the next players to lead.